Attachment apparatus for a firearm and related methods of use

ABSTRACT

An attachment apparatus for a firearm and methods of use of the attachment apparatus are disclosed. The attachment apparatus may include an eyebolt securable to a rail of a firearm. The eyebolt may include a first loop defining a first aperture and a second loop defining a second aperture. In use, various devices may be attached to one or more loops of the eyebolt so that the eyebolt provides an interface for attachment of various devices to the firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application hereby incorporates by reference in the entirety herein the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “FIREARM TRAINING APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE” by Michael R. Mansfield as inventor and applicant and filed on 8 Apr. 2022.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to firearms, and, more specifically, to attachment apparatus that may be used for the attachment of the firearm to various devices.

Background of the Invention

A rail is commonly provided as an element of modern firearms as manufactured. In addition, firearms may be modified post manufacture by adding a rail to the firearm. Rail, as used herein, includes, for example, Picatinny rail (e.g., MIL-STD-1913 rail), Weaver rail, M-LOK rail interface system provided by Magpul Industries, and KeyMod rail interface system developed by VLTOR Weapon Systems. The design of the specific rail is standardized in order to allow various devices from various manufacturers to be attached to the rail that provide various functionalities to the firearm. Examples of such devices include sights, scopes, lights including flashlights and lasers, grips, bayonet lugs, bipods, tripods, all of which may be designed for attachment to the firearm using the rail.

While slings and associated swivel attachments have long been known, other points of attachment may be required, for example, to secure the firearm during transport or to provide a point(s) of attachment for various devices to the firearm in addition to the rail. Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus that attach to the rail thereby providing additional point(s) of attachment thereby providing additional functionality to the firearm.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the apparatus and related methods of use disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure.

An attachment apparatus for a firearm is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the attachment apparatus may include an eyebolt securable to a rail of said firearm. A first loop may be formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt with the first loop defining a first aperture, and a second loop may be formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt with the second loop defining a second aperture. When the eyebolt is secured to the rail, the first loop and the second loop are disposed on opposing sides of a barrel of the firearm, the first loop and the second loop lie in a plane that is parallel to an axis of the barrel of said firearm, and the first aperture and the second aperture passing perpendicularly through the plane, in various aspects. The eyebolt may include a third loop defining a third aperture with, for example, the third loop lying in a perpendicular plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the first loop and the second loop and radial to the axis of the barrel of said firearm when the eyebolt is secure to the rail. The eyebolt may include one or more loops having other configurations, in various aspects.

This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates by side view portions of an exemplary implementation of an attachment apparatus for a firearm according to aspects of the present inventions;

FIG. 1B illustrates by an expanded side view portions of the exemplary implementation of an attachment apparatus for a firearm of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A illustrates by perspective view an eyebolt portion of the exemplary attachment apparatus for a firearm of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B illustrates by front elevation view the eyebolt portion of the exemplary attachment apparatus for a firearm of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2C illustrates by bottom perspective view the eyebolt portion of the exemplary attachment apparatus for a firearm of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2D illustrates by side view portions of the exemplary attachment apparatus for a firearm of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 illustrates by bottom perspective view at least portions of a second exemplary implementation of an attachment apparatus for a firearm including a second exemplary eyebolt according to aspects of the present inventions;

FIG. 4 illustrates by perspective view at least portions of a third exemplary implementation of an attachment apparatus for a firearm according to aspects of the present inventions; and,

FIG. 5 illustrates by perspective view at least portions of a fourth exemplary implementation of an attachment apparatus for a firearm according to aspects of the present inventions.

The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. Use herein of relative terms such as generally, about, approximately, essentially, may be indicative of engineering, manufacturing, or scientific tolerances such as ±0.1%, ±1%, ±2.5%, ±5%, or other such tolerances, as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An attachment apparatus for a firearm, as discloses herein, includes an eyebolt securable to a rail of said firearm. The eyebolt includes a first loop formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt that defines a first aperture, and a second loop formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt that defines a second aperture, in various aspects. The first loop and the second loop may have various dispositions with respect to one another and with respect to a firearm to which the eyebolt is secured. The eyebolt may include one loop or three or more loops, in various other aspects. The one or more loops of the eyebolt are fixed in position so that the one or more loops are maintained in fixed relation with the firearm to which the eyebolt is secured. The eyebolt may be configured to be readily attached to the rail and detached from the rail, in various aspects. Various devices may be attached to the eyebolt, and, thus, to the firearm when the eyebolt is attached to the rail of the firearm.

FIGS. 1A, 1B illustrate attachment apparatus 10 including eyebolt 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, firearm 99 includes rails 91 a, 91 b, 91 c, and eyebolt 20 is attached to rail 91 a secured to an underside of receiver 98. Eyebolt 20 forms first loop 21, second loop 23, and third loop 25 (also see FIG. 2A), in this implementation. One or more rail(s), such as rails 91 a, 91 b, 91 c may be variously disposed in securement to firearm 99, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure, and one or more eyebolts 20 may be attached to the rail(s) disposed about firearm 99, in various implementations. Attachment of eyebolt 20 to rail 91 a of firearm 99 is exemplary, as is illustrating firearm 99 as a rifle. Thus, it should be understood that firearm 99 may be variously configured as, for example, a rifle, pistol, carbine, or shotgun, in various other implementations. Furthermore, rails 91 a, 91 b, 91 c are illustrated as Picatinny rails that conform to U.S. military standard MIL-STD-1913 for purposes of explanation. It should be recognized that rails, such as rails 91 a, 91 b, 91 c, disclosed herein may be formed according to, for example, Weaver, M-LOK, KeyMod, NATO conforming to STANAG 4694, and other standards and combinations thereof, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Finally, eyebolt 20 may be attached to any of rails 91 a, 91 b, 91 c, in various implementations.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D further illustrate eyebolt 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2C, eyebolt 20 includes first loop 21, second loop 23, and third loop 25 that define corresponding first aperture 22, second aperture 24, and third aperture 26, respectively. First loop 21, second loop 23, and third loop 25 are disposed in fixed relation to fixture portion 40 of eyebolt 20, as illustrated, and fixture portion 40 is attachable removably to rail 91 a. For example, eyebolt 20 may be formed of steel, aluminum, or rigid high strength plastic, and may be machined, cast, or molded as a unitary structure. That is, first loop 21, second loop 23, third loop 25, and fixture portion 40 may be cast as a single piece of material, molded as a single piece of material, or machined from a single piece of stock. As illustrated, eyebolt 20 is of rigid construction with first loop 21, second loop 23, third loop 25, and fixture portion 40 being in fixed relation with one another.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, first loop 21 and second loop 23 lie in plane 71 that is parallel to axis 77 (see FIG. 1A) of barrel 97. First aperture 22 and second aperture 24 of first loop 21 and second loop 23, respectively, pass perpendicularly through plane 71. Third loop 25 lies in perpendicular plane 73 that is perpendicular to plane 71 and radial to axis 77 with axis 77 generally lying within perpendicular plane 73, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. Third aperture 26 of third loop 25 passes through perpendicular plane 73, as illustrated. Thus, for example, when firearm 99 is being sighted generally horizontally at a target by the user, plane 71 may be oriented generally horizontally and perpendicular plane 73 may be oriented generally vertically, so that first loop 21 and second loop 23 extend outward from sides of receiver 98 and third loop 25 extends downward from receiver 98.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, fixture 40 defines clamp member 41 with surface 46 a and fixture 40 defines surface 44. Opposing clamp member 43 is positionably engaged with fixture 40 by fastener 51, as illustrated, and opposing clamp member 43 defines, at least in part, surface 46 b, and a remaining portion of surface 46 b, if any, may be defined by fixture 40. Surface 44, which is generally planar, is sized to conform to surface 94 of rail 91 a in order to allow surface 44 to engage biasingly surface 94 of rail 91 a, in this implementation. Surfaces 46 a, 46 b are sized and shaped to conform to surfaces 96 a, 96 b of rail 91 a, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, in order to allow surfaces 46 a, 46 b to engage biasingly surfaces 96 a, 96 b, respectively, of rail 91 a.

With surface 44 of fixture 40 biased against surface 94, fastener 51 may be tightened in order to bring surfaces 46 a, 46 b into biased engagement with surfaces 96 a, 96 b, respectively thereby attaching eyebolt 20 securely fixedly to rail 91 a, in this implementation. First loop 21, second loop 23, and third loop are in fixed relation to rail 91 a, and, thus, in fixed relation with firearm 99 when eyebolt 20 is secured to rail 91 a, in this implementation. Fastener 51 may be loosened in order to bring surfaces 46 a, 46 b out of biased engagement with surfaces 96 a, 96 b, respectively, thereby allowing eyebolt 20 to be slidably positioned along rail 91 a or allowing eyebolt 20 to be removed entirely from rail 91 a.

Rail 91 a, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, includes recoil grooves 93 a, 93 b, 93 c. A portion of fastener 51 between clamp member 41 and opposing clamp member 43 is illustrated in FIG. 2D as engaged with rail 91 a within recoil groove 93 b to secure eyebolt 20 with rail 91 a against sliding along rail 91 a. Note that portions of eyebolt 20 other than fastener 51 are omitted from FIG. 2D for clarity of explanation.

Fastener 51 is illustrated as threaded for threaded engagement, for example, with clamp member 41 or with a hexagonal nut (as illustrated) or wingnut. Fastener 51 may have a head with a mortise configured to receive an Allen key (as illustrated), a hex head, a grippable head, or a head configured to receive a Torx (star) bit, Phillips bit, or so forth, to allow a user to tighten or loosen the engagement of clamp member 41 and opposing clamp member 43 with rail 91 a by tightening or loosening fastener 51, respectively. Fastener 51 may be configured in other ways to allow the user to tighten or loosen the engagement of clamp member 41 and opposing clamp member 43 with rail 91 a, in various other implementations, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Although only a single fastener 51 is included in this illustrated implementation, it should be recognized that other implementations may include two or more fasteners, such as fastener 51, and that each of the two or more fasteners may uniquely engage a recoil groove, such as recoil groove 93 a, 93 b, 93 c.

Various devices may engage one or more of first loop 21, second loop 23, and third loop 25 using corresponding first aperture 22, second aperture 24, and third aperture 26 of eyebolt 20, in various implementations. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, rope 32 is engaged with first aperture 22 of first loop 21 by hook 33. Rope 32 includes, for example, rope, cable, strap, elastic band, bungee cord, spring, and so forth. Hook 33 may be configured as, for example, a hook, a clip, or a carabiner secure to rope 32. Other devices, such as lights including flashlights and lasers, grips, optical devices, bayonet lugs, bipods, and tripods may be engaged with eyebolt 20 by attachment to one or more of first aperture 22 of first loop 21, second aperture 24 of second loop 23, and third aperture 26 of third loop 25. Eyebolt 20 including first aperture 22 of first loop 21, second aperture 24 of second loop 23, and third aperture 26 of third loop 25 may be offered as a standardized design akin to the Picatinny rail, Weaver rail, etc. in order to provide a standard means for attachment that allows various devices from various manufacturers to be attached to the firearm.

FIG. 3 illustrates portions of another exemplary attachment apparatus 100 including eyebolt 120. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , eyebolt 120 includes first loop 121 and second loop 123 attached to fixture 140, with first loop 121 defining first aperture 122 and second loop 123 defining second aperture 124. Note that fixture 140, first loop 121, and second loop 123 form a unitary structure with first loop 121 and second loop 123 being immobile with respect to fixture 140. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , first loop 121 and second loop 123 are disposed axially with respect to one another to be oriented generally along an axis of a barrel of a firearm, such as axis 77 of barrel 97 of firearm 99, when secured to the firearm. Thus, in this implementation, first loop 121 and second loop 123 lie in perpendicular plane 173 that is radial to the axis of the firearm, and first aperture 122 and second aperture 124 pass through perpendicular plane 173, as illustrated in FIG. 3 . For example, when the firearm to which eyebolt 120 is attached is being sighted generally horizontally at a target by the user, perpendicular plane 173 may be oriented generally vertically, so that first loop 121 and second loop 123 extend from a receiver, such as receiver 98, with first loop 121 forward of second loop 123 toward a muzzle of the barrel of the firearm, and second loop 123 rearward of first loop 121 toward a butt of the firearm. Per this example, first aperture 122 and second aperture 124 pass generally horizontally through perpendicular plane 173.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , fixture 140 defines clamp member 141 with surface 146 a and surface 144. Opposing clamp member 143 is positionably engaged with fixture 140 by fasteners 151 a, 151 b, as illustrated. Opposing clamp member 143 defines surface 146 b, in this implementation. With surface 144 of fixture 140 biased against a surface, such as surface 94, of a rail, such as rail 91 a, 91 b, 91 c, fasteners 151 a, 151 b may be tightened thereby bringing surfaces 146 a, 146 b into biased engagement with surfaces of the rail, such as surfaces 96 a, 96 b, respectively, thereby attaching fixedly eyebolt 120 to the rail, in this implementation. With eyebolt 120 attached to the rail, first loop 121 and second loop 123 are in fixed position with respect to the rail, and, thus, in fixed position with respect to the firearm to which the rail is secured. In this implementation, fasteners 151 a, 151 b engage recoil grooves, such as recoil grooves 93 a, 93 b, 93 c, of the rail, with fastener 151 a engaging a recoil groove different from a recoil groove engaged by fastener 151 b.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary attachment apparatus 200 that includes eyebolt 220 secured to rail 291. Eyebolt 220 includes loop 221 in fixed disposition with respect to fixture portion 240. Loop 221 defines aperture 222, as illustrated. Rail 291 is configured as specified by the KeyMod rail interface system developed by VLTOR Weapon Systems of Tucson, AZ that is in the public domain. Fasteners 251 a, 251 b are configured to releaseably engage fixture portion 240 of eyebolt 220 with rail 291 using slots, such as slot 253 a, 253 b, 253 c, disposed in rail 291, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. When eyebolt 220 is secured to rail 291, loop 221 is in fixed relation with rail 291 and, thus, in fixed relation with a firearm to which rail 291 is attached.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary attachment apparatus 300 that includes eyebolt 320. Eyebolt 320 includes loop 321 in fixed disposition with respect to fixture portion 340, and loop 321 defines aperture 322, as illustrated. Eyebolt 320 is configured for attachment to rail 391 that conforms to specifications of the M-LOK rail interface system available under a free license from Magpul Industries of Austin TX. Fasteners 351 a, 351 b are configured as specified by the M-LOK to engage a slot, such as slot 353 a, 353 b, in rail 391, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. When eyebolt 320 is secured to rail 391, loop 321 is in fixed relation with rail 391, and, thus, in fixed relation with a firearm to which rail 391 is attached.

In operation of an attachment apparatus, such as attachment apparatus 10, 100, 200, 300, an eyebolt, such as eyebolt 20, 120, 220, 320, is attached to a rail, such as rail 91 a, 91 b, 91 c, 291, 391, the rail being attached to a firearm, such as firearm 99. The rail may be configured according to an of a number of standards, such as, for example, U.S. military standard MIL-STD-1913, Weaver, M-LOK, KeyMod, NATO STANAG 4694, and other standards. A fixture portion, such as fixture portion 40, 140, 240, 340, of the eyebolt is engaged with the rail using one or more fasteners, such as fastener 51, 151 a, 151 b, 251 a, 251 b, 351 a, 351 b, to attach the eyebolt to the rail. The one or more fasteners as well as the fixture portion may be specifically configured to cooperate with the particular configuration of the rail to attach to the particular configuration of the rail and to detach from the particular configuration of the rail. The eyebolt includes one or more loops, such as loop 21, 23, 25, 121, 123, 221, 321, that define corresponding apertures, such as aperture 22, 24, 26, 122, 124, 222, 322. When the eyebolt is attached to the rail, the one or more loops are in fixed relation with one another, in fixed relation with the fixture portion, and in fixed relation with the rail. That is, the one or more loops are fixed with respect to the fixture portion and do not swivel, hinge, rotate, or otherwise move. When the eyebolt is attached to the rail, for example, various devices such as ropes, lights, grips, optical devices, bipods, tripods, and so forth may be engaged with the firearm by engagement with one or more apertures of one or more loops of the eyebolt. The eyebolt may provide a standard interface for attachment of various devices to the firearm, and the one or more devices may be in fixed relation with the firearm because the eyebolt is in fixed relation with the firearm. As such, the configuration of the one or more loops of the eyebolt may be standardized. The one or more loops form a loop means for attachment of various devices to the firearm. When attachment of the eyebolt to the firearm is no longer desired, the one or more fasteners may be loosened and the eyebolt then removed from attachment to the rail. The fixture portion and fastener(s) may be configured to allow rapid attachment of the eyebolt to the rail and rapid detachment of the eyebolt from the rail.

The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. The Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) only. Accordingly, the Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An attachment apparatus for a firearm, comprising: an eyebolt attachable to a rail of said firearm; a first loop formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt, the first loop defining a first aperture; and a second loop formed as a fixed portion of the eyebolt, the second loop defining a second aperture.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the eyebolt is attached to the rail the first loop and the second loop are disposed on opposing sides of a barrel of said firearm, the first loop and the second loop lie in a plane that is parallel to an axis of the barrel of said firearm, and the first aperture and the second aperture passing perpendicularly through the plane.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a third loop defining a third aperture, the third loop lies in a perpendicular plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the first loop and the second loop and radial to the axis of the barrel of said firearm.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first loop and the second loop are disposed axially with respect to one another generally along an axis of a barrel of said firearm, the first loop and the second loop lie in a perpendicular plane that is radial to the axis.
 5. An attachment apparatus for a firearm, comprising: an eyebolt attached to a rail of said firearm, the eyebolt comprising a first loop defining a first aperture; a second loop defining a second aperture.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first loop and the second loop are disposed on opposing sides of a barrel of said firearm, the first loop and the second loop lying in a plane that is parallel to an axis of the barrel of said firearm, and the first aperture and the second aperture passing perpendicularly through the plane
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a third loop defining a third aperture, the third loop lying in a perpendicular plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the first loop and the second loop and radial to the axis of the barrel of said firearm.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first loop and the second loop are disposed axially with respect to one another generally along an axis of a barrel of said firearm, the first loop and the second loop lie in a perpendicular plane that is radial to the axis.
 9. An attachment apparatus for a firearm, comprising: an eyebolt attachable to a rail of said firearm; a first loop means for attachment; and a second loop means for attachment.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a third loop means for attachment.
 11. An attachment apparatus for a firearm, comprising: an eyebolt securable to a rail of said firearm, the eyebolt comprising one or more loop means for engagement with a device. 